The approach to hartal

For voluntary support by the masses (electorate), the purpose and utility of continued hartal throughout each month has to be understood through self-analysis, without being falsely indoctrinated. The nuisance value of hartal has increased, and the irritation generated is more than that from mosquito bites.

The varieties of negative approaches is not impressive. The party's image is eroding, and it is cumulative in effect. The responsibility for weakening the party rests solely on the senior party leaders, who cannot explain the real motivation for continuing with hartal. An evil game looks natural after sometime. The party is not achieving its announced objectives in the third year of operation of hartal, which is practically paraysed, if not still-born. Hartal is suffering from cancer (if not TB).

The party appears to have run out of ideas, and has thrown the burden on the helpless citizens, and the armed goonda groups, who masquerade as field workers. We are facing terrorist politics. It cannot continue indefinitely, as continued violence is against human nature.

Return to peaceful, voluntary hartal is not possible without an intervening gap, to purge out the intruders who believe in violence. The vested groups would not give in easily, as they are short-changing the public and not paying the real price of the goods and services commandeered for private gain. The cosmic law of compensation is already taking its toll; but it is rather indirect and camouflaged.

Linked to the hartal issue is the grey financial market and black-market operations, which are holding the national economy as hostage. This root cause cannot be removed without political consensus (there are black sheep in more than on party), which is not forthcoming either inside or outside the parliament. Politics is ailing, and it is definitely not healthy; and the perpetrators are not interested in choosing other options.

It reveals the continued weakness of the electorate (since partition in 1947). The reasons are obvious; marginal living conditions around the poverty line for the majority; disputes about the common national goals, the high density of the population in a small cramped country. With 'normal political atmosphere, Bangladesh could have taken off beyond the seven to eight percent growth rate by now. The politicians are not creating the right of way, as party and selfish interests intervene time and again. It means that negative politics is dictating the society. What is the reaction of the leaders in the other sectors of the society? The feedback is a mere trickle. Unless it becomes a cascade, the nasty politicians will continue to dictate the terms. Now the situation is; take it, or leave it.

Violence will now increase in the vertical scale, and the signs are already there. When one's life is in danger, it is not possible for that person to concentrate on his business, vocation, avocation, or profession, and contribute to the society and the GDP.

Formal interventions have already been initiated by third platform groups. This movement has to gather momentum before it is too late. Now a sensitive issue has crept in (as expected, considering the global situation); the intrusion of religion in politics. The various man-made shades of secularism are being questioned more and more deeply. This is just the beginning, and the detuned politicians are not prepared to face the situation squarely (note the plight of the super power). Capitalism and materials go hand in hand, and its attractive power is immense, because black money has black purchasing power, without instant official intervention.

Our leadership virtues are skin-deep and rather cosmetic. There is a difference in politics of the stage, and politics with solid background. The politicians are not interested in the true development of politics, but are immersed in matters of the moment; otherwise Bangladesh would not have been limping after three decades.